[ChrisMoore]

My hen i think is getting ill and I am a bit worried.  She has been very quiet all day standing in the same place.  When I opened the run she stayed still.  I picked her up and took her out the run and she immediately began eating grass but only a few pecks.  They were very slow pecks as well.  (about 3:1 compaired to her friend).  She is now standing in the same place not doing anything.  Anyone have any advice?

[Hensington]

Some more symptoms would be good.

Sour crop?
Check her crop, does it feel full? Pick her up tip her forward and GENTLY extend her neck downwards see if she sicks anything up.

Egg bound?
Then switch round and check the other end for a stuck egg.

Respiratory disease?
Is she wheezing when breathing, is she pulling her chest hard when breathing, runny nose or eyes? Swollen eyes?

[Roughlee Handled]

It could only be sour crop if the chicken has a large "squishy" crop first thing in the morning immediately when it has come out of the coop and its breath smells as if it has got something dead in side it.  You will know!!!

DO NOT TRY AND MAKE YOUR CHICKEN SICK IF THE ABOVE IS NOT TRUE.


Is its comb the same colour as it freind?  Has it layed recently? Has it layed any soft shelled eggs.  Is its tail down?

[Aunt Sally]

Very true Ruff.  I'f you don't know what your doing you can kill the bird 

Your hen is obviously not well Chris so do tell us a bit more about her:

1. How old is she ?

2. Has she been laying eggs if so when was the last one laid ?

3. Does she freerange ?

4. Is there any access to long grass ?

5. If you feel under her wing does she seem warmer than the other chickens ?

6. Is her crop full in the morning before she has any food or drink ?

7. If it's full is it hard of squishy with smelly breath ?

8. Is her abdomen swollen (that's the bit below her vent) ?

9. If you press it gently can up near her vent can you feel a lump which could be an egg ?

10. Is she passing any poos and are the like her usual ones ?

11. Does she have any discharge from her nose or eyes ?

12. Is her breathing noisy ?

13. What is her comb like ?

14. Has she been wormed ?

That will do to be going on with !

[Hawkins]

like the comprehensive list Aunt Sally.

[Aunt Sally]

Chris doesn't have to answer them all - just the ones that are relevant 

[ChrisMoore]

Thankyou for all the promt replies  
answers to Aunt Sally which I think answer everyone else.

1,  She is about 25 weeks old
2.  She has laid from 16 weeks and has laid one egg a day and has only missed one day.  Her last egg was this morning on time.
3.  We have 2 hens and they have a section of the garden fenced off about 10meters x 4 meters.  Occasionally we let them into the whole garden but not today.
4.  There is short grass in their run and a good bare earth patch to dig in.  I did turn over the earth today to loosen it for them.
5. Under her wing feels the same as the other
6.  Her crop looks fuller than normal and is bigger than the other ones.
7.  I did not want to squeeze hard but it does not feel very hard.  Cant really say if it is squishy.  She does not have a smelly breath.
8.  Her abdomen seems ok.
9.  There is no egg.
10. Poos are normal.
11. No discharge from nose or eyes
12. Breathing normal
13. Her comb is good (Very very very slightly more floppy than the others but probably because I am looking for a difference)
14. I believe she was wormed before we bought her.

One new thing she is now standing in the corner leaning on the wall.  If she was human I would say she looked "stoned"  She is defiantely out of it and moving very slowly.

[Roughlee Handled]

Please tell us what she is like tomorrow.  I fear a visit to the vet may be? But it a strange one if she has suddenly taken an odd turn.

[mumsy]

One of mine did this last year, it only lasted a day & seemed to be back to normal the next.  She didn't lay another egg for 25 days though.  I put it down to maybe eating something that didn't agree with her.  I would get her to the vet, if they know about poultry. Hope she will be ok, good luck

[Aunt Sally]

Let us know if there is any change in the morning. 

Check her crop first thing and let us know if it's empty / full soft / full hard.

[ChrisMoore]

Great news.  She now seems to be getting better.    I put her to bed last night and expected the worst this morning, so woke earlier than my 5 year old to check on them and was met with a chorus of shouting.  Her crop is slightly larger than her friend and is a little hard but I must admit I don't really know exactly what I am looking for. 

Now I have to face the music when my daughter wakes up because it is her job, and her job alone to let the girls out, feed and water but most importantly collect breakfast.    I never thought that keeping chickens would be this rewarding (or worrying for that matter).  Thanks for all the concern though.  It is reassuring to know that I have some help close by.